Case packing machine and method



e CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Feb. 10, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 1M N. a

INVENTOR. MELVIN SALWASSER A T TORNEYS June 21, 1960 Filed Feb. 10, 1955M. SALWASSER CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.MELVIN SALWASSER ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 Filed Feb. 10, 1955 M.SALWASSER CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD 1O Sheets-Sheet 3 Mia/m4 A TTORNEVS June 21, 1960 M. SALWASSER 2,941,339

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Feb. 10, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. MEL V/N SAL WASSER A T TORNEVS 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. SALWASSERCASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD June 21, 1960 Filed Feb. 10, 1955INVENTOR. MELV/N SALMSSER M M4; m

ATTORNEYS M. SALWASSER CASE! PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD June 21, 1960 10Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 10, 1955 INVENTOR. MELVIN $4LW4SSER A7'TORNEVS CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Feb. 10, 1955 10Sheets-Sheet 7 IN V EN TOR.

- MELVIN sALMssER' ATTORNEKS June 21, 1960 M. SALWASSER 2,941,339

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Feb. 10, 1955 l0 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR. MEL V/N SALWASSER BY v 4 4, M QWw-C ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 M.SALWASSER 2,941,339

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD i Filed Feb. 10, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 9INVENTOR. MELVIN SALWASSER M m wan:

ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 M. sALwAssER CASE PACKING :MACHINE AND METHOD l0Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 10, 1955 INVENTOR. MEL V/N SALWASSER BY 7 44,M 97/:

A T TORNEVS packages.

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD Melvin Salwasser, P.O. Box 101, Reedley,Calif.

Filed Feb. 10, 1955, Ser. No. 487,407

,8 .Claims. (Cl. 53-26) This invention relates to a method and apparatusfor packing a plurality of articles of substantially uniform .sizeand-shape, such as cartons, boxes, bags, and the like,

in a case or shipping container.

In packaging most soft goods,it is common to put up such goods inpackages of a size suitable for use by the retail consumer. "Thesepackages are usually small enough to=be held in one hand, and arereasonably regular in configuration. For the purposes of shipment to theretailer and display by him, these small packages are normally packed inpredetermined multiples in a case or shipping container. The case maycontain a dozen, or

perhaps two dozen small packages, andit is conventionally tailored tofit such a predetermined number of Assembling the packages intomultiples and inserting consuming job, and therefore, known apparatushas been used to perform this task. Such apparatus is ordinarilycomplicated and expensive to operate and service, or performs only partof the task.

Many known methods and machines are capable'of forming multiples in oneor two of the principal orthogonal directions but not in all three ofsuch directions.

With such methods and machines it is possible to arrange only a singlelayer of small packages for insertion intoa case.

Furthermore, most of the known machines are capable of assemblingonlypackages which have a rigid, regular shape such as cartons and boxes.Some products, such as sugar and flour, are packed in paper bags whichtend to becomerounded due to the hydraulic effect of the loose material.Others, such as frozen food products, tend to bulge their containers byexpanding upon freezing. These types of articles or packages, althoughsubstantially uniform in size and shape, are not capable of supportingthemselves in vertically stacked relationship, because of their slightirregularities. Therefore, known case packing machines usually fail toadequately operate thereon.

By the method and machine of this invention, it is possible to readilyassemble and insert in to a case a number of small packages arranged inlayers, each layer containing multiples of such packages in twodirections.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel methodfor assembling a predetermined number of articles into a predeterminedarrangement for insertion into a case.

Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus forcarrying out the above method.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method ofpacking cases which is fast and relatively easy to perform.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a method forarranging a number of articles of .substantially uniform size and shapein a case lot comprising a plurality of stacks, each stack comprising aplurality of tiers, and each tier comprising a plurality of articles.

them into the container by hand is a tedious and time It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide a machine for automaticallyarranging a plurality of articles of substantially uniform size andshape into tiers, stacks of a plurality of said tiers, and a case lotofa plurality of said stacks, and for inserting saidcase lot into a case.

It is still a further object of this invention toprovide a machine forassembling packages in a predetermined stacked relationship and forinserting such assembly into a case regardless of whether the sides ofthe packages are bulged. 1

Yet another object ofthis invention is .a provision of -a case packingmachine .which is relatively simplein construction but capable ofrapidly and efliciently performing 'its intended operation. 1 I

Still another object of this invention is the=provisionof a casepackingmachine having safetycontrols to prevent .interferring operations fromoccurring.

Itis another object of this invention to provide a machine forassembling a multiples of packages and inserting such multiples into acase, which machine may be easily and :readily modified for operationwith vartying sizes of packages and cases. i e

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

.Fig. 1 is a perspective .view of :the machine of this invention;

Fig. 2. is a top plan view of the machineofFig. '1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view takensubstantially along line 3-3ofFig. 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a side elevational-view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. *5 is a semi-schematic view ofselected mechanism of the machine ofFig. 1, before actuationofthe side ram, showing the control circuit, thepackages being shown in dot-dash lines;

.Fig. :6 is an enlarged .view of aportion Gfa-mechanism. of Fig. 5showing the packages-in-solid-lines;

Fig.7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 after.actuation;of the side ram; 3

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional'view, similar'toFig. 3, of a portion ofa modified form ofmachine, takensubstantially along line 88 of Fig. 9; v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view, similar to Fig. 4, of a portion ofthe modified form of themachine'of 'Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a semi-schematic view of-selected mechanism of, the machineof Fig. 8, showing the controlcircuit,fthe packages being shown indot-dash lines;

Fig. llis an enlarged perspective view of the-sequence relay of thecircuit of Fig. 10; and,

Figs. 12 through 17 are schematic views illustrating steps of the methodof this invention. i

In general the method of this invention contemplate movingasline ofpackages or articles 1 (Fig. :12) of substantially uniform size andshape in a line 2 along agenerally'horizontal path of travel.Apredetermined-nuinber of said articles, constituting a row .3,are-elevated out of said line to form a tier 4 of articles 1 (Fig. 13-).Successive tiers 4 are elevated one under the other to-form -a stack 5of said tiers (Fig. 14). 'Stack 5 is then moved 'laterallyof line 2, andafter a succession of the previously described steps a case lot.6 (Fig.16) is formed of-a plurality of stacks '5. Upon formation of case lot-6,said case lot is inserted into case or shipping container 7*(Fig. 17)which is then removed to be .closedand transported.

Therefore, the machine of this invention generally comprises means forperforming these:various steps #of this method. The machine includes-a,gencrally'hori- 2, 3) for moving said stacks laterally of conveyor forforming case lot 6 and inserting said case lots into cases 7. A casechair 13 and takeoff conveyor 14 (Figs. 1, 2, 4) are provided fortransporting the filled ,case from the machinetq. i

in detail, themachine of Figs. '1 through 4, comprises a generally.rectangular housing 16 supported on adjustable legs 17. Said housingcontains the major control fand'power. equipment, such as. motor 18.(Fig.3) and forms a base for thegreater portion of. the structure of themachine; Extending from one side of housing 16 is input conveyor-10which includes a. belt 19, having a generally horizontal upper run,supported betweenpulleys 20, 21.-1Pulley:j2,0.,is supported at the outerendof a horizontally extending frame 22, theother end of which issecured to frame .16, and which is supported at its outer end bypedestal 23. Pulley 21'is supported for rotation on housing 16 and 'isdriven by motor 18 through sprocket and chain drive 241 (Fig. 3).Articles or packages 1 are adapted to. be moved in a line by conveyor 10.and;two'pair of guide rails 25, '26 (Figs. 3, 4) extend along either:side'ofsaidjconveyor for'the purpose of maintaining said articles in.apredetermined orientation.

Extending from the .upper run of belt 19 at the end adjacent housing 16is a short plate 27, rigidly secured to said housing. The top ofelevator 11 is coplanar with said plate which'acts to transfer thepackages from belt 19 onto said elevator.

Elevator 11 comprises an elongated generallyrhorizontal table 29 (Figs.2, 3) having a bar 30'extending downwardly therefrom. Said bar ismounted in vertical guides 31 so as to. be reciprocable therein. .Adouble acting hydraulic cylinder 32 is mounted between bar3tl and theframe of housing 16 providing for such reciprocation. Table 29 may beformed of a single plate but preferably, toredu'ce friction, comprisesan elongated,

generally u-shaped frame 33 havinga plurality of staggered rollers 34mounted between the upstanding flanges '35 thereof. At the end of frame33 remote from con .veyor 10, a plate 36,.having'its upper surfacecoplanar with the tops ofvrollers 34, mayextend between flanges 35 forproviding a friction braking surface for packages traveling along saidrollers.

I Guide rails 25 extend along elevator table 29 'toa verticalstop member37 which is provided extending upwardly from said tableadjacent plate36. A line of articles traveling on the upper run of belt 19 is pushedacross plate 27, onto table 29, and is stopped by member :37. For thepurpose of this description the number of articles brought to rest ontable 29 is denominated a row. Depending from the edge of elevator table29 adjacent conveyor 10 is a side plate 38 (Fig. 3). This plate, uponlifting of table 29, serves to hold the end of the line of articles orpackages on conveyor. 10 from forward motion until return of table 29 toa position coplanar with the upper run of belt 19. Not onlydo both guiderails 25 extend the length of table 29, but the lower one of guide rails26 also extends .to stop member 37. Hence the articles, pushed by belt19, are accurately guided onto table 19. To aid in stopping the row ofarticles on said table, an elongated friction rail 39 is positionedadjacent and parallel to upper guide r ai1 25. .Rail139.is yieldablyurged toward the articles on table 29 by springs 28 (Figs. 5, 6, 7), andthe-end thereof adjacent conveyor 10 may be bent outwardly from the lineof articles to avoid catching said articles on said end. Spaced upwardlyfrom one elongated side of elevator table 29 by an amount somewhatgreater than the height of an article on said table, is side ram 12.Said side ram comprises a generally vertically extending plate 40 havinga supporting bar 41 extending therefrom in a direction transversely ofelevator table 29. Bar 41 is mounted for reciprocation in guide 42 whichis secured atop housing 16 by brackets 43. Hydraulic cylinder 44 is moununder guide 42 and has its piston rod pivotally connected to ear 45 onbar 41 for reciprocating said bar and attached plate 40 in response toactuation of cylinder 44.

Elevator 11 lifts successive rows of packages to form tiers 4, aspreviously explained, along the face of plate 40 of side ram 12. As eachsuccessive row is lifted it is held in position adjacent the face ofside ram 12 and above table 29 of elevator 11 by an elongated carton dog46 (Figs. 3, 5) which extends under the lower edge of plate 40. In thisposition the row becomes a tier. Dog 46 is supported at the end of apair of bars 47 which are pivotally connected to the rear or inoperativeface of plate 12. A tension spring 48 acting between plate 40 and anextension on bar 47 tends to urge the leading edge 49 of carton dog 46to a position forwardly of the operative surface of plate 40 (Fig. 5). Acam surface 50 is provided adjacent the leading edge of dog-46 so Thebottom or closed end of carton 7 is supported in the right angle.

that said dog will be cammed 'to aposition flush with plate. 40 bytherow of articles upon elevation of said row. It'is obvious that after therow (now a tier) of articles has been elevated past dog 46, said dogwill snap under the lower edge of said tier to support the same. Anothersupporting member 51, to be later described, is provided at the edge ofthe tier of articles opposite plate 40 for a similar purpose. 2 Stopmember 37 extends vertically throughout the height of plate 40 andtherefore provides a guide for the edge of 'a' stack of tiers ofpackages. Likewise guide member 52 positioned along the opposite edge ofthe stack andextending-vertically from the top of the line of packagesto the top of plate 40, serves to guide the adjacent edge of saidstacks: The bottom end of member 52may be bent slightly outwardly ofsaid stack as shown in Fig; 3 so as toassure the correct positioning ofthe tiers as the same are raised by elevator 29.

' In order that the case lot may be assembled of 'a plurality of suchstacks before insertion into the case, and

.to aid in such insertion, a carton tube, generally designated 55 (Figs.1, 2, 4), is supported in line with the direction of reciprocation ofside ram 12. .Said tube comprises a rectangular, centrally open frame 56(Figs. 1, 2, 3 4) supported, in a plane generally parallel to but spacedfrom plate 40, on housing 16 by braces 57. A thin plate is cantileveredfrom each sidemember of frame 56 to form an open ended box having thetop 58, bottom 59, and

carton tube. The converging side and top plates of said carton tube areslightly flexed apart by insertion of a stack therein so as to apply arestraining force to the sides of the stack in the end of the tuberemote from side ram 12. p

- Case 7 is adapted to he slipped over the outer open end of carton tube55 so that stacks urged through said carton tube by side ram 12 will bepushed into said case.

position shown in Fig. 5 by case chair 13. Said case chair comprises abottom plate (Fig. 4) and a side plate'66 (Fig. 2) adjoining each otherat a generally Bottom plate 65-is centrally recess as at 67 to form agenerally U-shaped plate, for a purpose to be. described.

Swingably secured to one edge of plate 65 by brackets 68 are a pair offingers 69 (Fig. 2) for holding the bottom flaps-70 (Fig. 1) of case 7closed and for yieldably urging said case onto tube 55. Said fingers areurged away from plate 65 and toward case 7 by a pair of tension springs71 (Figsfl 1, 2), which. are secured atone end to levers 72 which may beformed integrally with brackets 68.

Case chair 13 is supported at the end of bars 74 which extend frombottom plate 66 and are secured to pivot shaft 75 (Figs. 1, supportedfor rotation in bracket .76. Crank arm 77 is secured at one end to shaft75 and has its remote end pivotally secured to piston rod 78 ofhydraulic cylinder '79.

In this manner reciprocation of piston rod '78 causes case chair 13 torotate about shaft 75- from a position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5,where plate 66 is generally horizontal, to the dot-dash line position,where plate 66 is generally vertical. Takeoff conveyor 14 comprising abelt 80, having a generally horizontal upper run, mounted betweenpulleys 81, 82, is placed beneath case chair 13 in a position to receivecases 7 therefrom. Pulley 81 maybe driven from motor 18 byuniversalshaft SS (Fig. 2) and may be provided with takeup pulleys 84 (Figs. 1,4). Pulleys 31,82. are journalled for rotation on frame 85 which may besupported above the floor on pedestal 86. Said frame also mounts aplurality. of rollers 87 which extend under theupper run of belt'fii).

Bottom plate 65 of case chair 13 is cut away at a recess .67 so as toembrace the end or" .belt 80 when lowered onto said belt to besubstantially coplanar therewith. In thisjmanner, when case 7 has beenfilled, actuation of hydraulic cylinder 79 lowers chair '13 tobelt 80where said belt contacts the bottom of said case to move it from casechair 13. Guide rails 88 may be placed along either side of belt 80 andparallel thereto to prevent travel of case described structure of Figs.1 through 4. It isto be noted that an electric power source -91 isprovided for the control circuit of Fig. 5 and the control solenoids 92,94

'an'd99 of each hydraulic cylinder 32, 44 and '79, respectively, aregrounded thereto. Cylinders 32, 44, and 79 are of a conventional type.in which the advance and retard strokes of the piston are controlled by.a slide valve operating at the command of such solenoids. Each saidcylinder is also provided with a source of hydraulic power (not shown)which may be controlledmanual'ly by a valve'93 (Fig. 4).

As previously explained, starting with the machine empty, packages orarticles 1 are movedrin a line onto table 29 of elevator 11 by conveyor10. When a row of said articles is in place on said table the end ofsaid row contacts the blade of a conventional micro switch '95 (Figs.

3, 5). Switch 95-controls the advance stroke (denoted -by thearrow :1)of lift cylinder 32 and is normally springurged to the inactiveposition. Upon contact by the row of articles on table 2.9 switch $5 ispushed to the active position completing the circuit between powersource-91 and the advance side of solenoid 92*. Hence cylinder-32 liftselevator 1-1 to elevate the row 3 (Fig. 12) of articles on table .29 toa position A (Fig. 5), where such row be- -comes thebottom tier 4 held.by carton. dog 46 andsupporting member 51.

Bar 30 of the elevator 11hasthe lower .endot switch actuator bar 96(Fig. 5) attached'thereto, which-actuator barhas a curved upper end 97and an intermediate hump 98. Switch 100 is in position tobe actuated byhump 98 at the-Upper position of elevator .11 (see dot:dash lineposition, Fig. 5) and said switch then completes thecircuit betweenpower source 91 and the retard side of solenoid 92 (denoted by oppositearrow 1'). In this manner, when cylinder 32 has elevated the row. ofarticles to position A, said cylinder returns elevator .1110 the bottomof its stroke (shown in Figs. 3, 5) as controlled by switch 100 and theretard side ofsolenoid 192. In the meantime, of course, switch 95 hasreturned to the inactive position to be activated by the second row ofarticles to be pushed onto table 29 by conveyor 10.

The above described operation of lifting-a row of articles 1 to form atier 4 adjacent the face of plate 40- of-side ram :the stack-being,inserted into carton tube 55. "obvious that .lJPQILzIfiIIflOtiQIlofsideram 12, .both member "51 and :canton dog 46 will snap .:back:to'the posi- ;tion .shown"intFigssS,r16, ready .to receive another-tier "'6v12 is themrepeated. Uponthe secondelevating step, the row .on tablev29:1ifts the tier at position A to position (B .(Fig .5) and-itselfoccupies position A. On the third such step tiers at A and B are liftedto position B and C, respectively, and thethird row becomes a tier at A,thus forming a stack 5 of a plurality of such tiers.

The machine thus far described is foruse with regular boxes or articleshaving fiat sides so that each tier 4- balances its' adjacent tierwithout necessity for supporting the sidesofthe stack.

At this po-intthe tier at position C contacts the blade of a microswitch101 moving such switch from the dotted line position (Fig. .5), inwhich it completed the power circuit totlie advance side of solenoid92., to the solid lineposition in which such power circuit isinterrupted. Hence, .cylinder- 32 'is held inoperative while a completestack:5 is in the. position adjacent plate 40 shown in Fig. v5(positiQnC).

This" movement .of switch 101 also closes the circuit between powersource 91 and the advance side a of solenoid 94 :of cylinder 44 therebyactuating side ram 12 to push ,theadjacent stack 5' (at position C) toposition D at-the.,errtry to the carton tube 55. The end of this strokeof side Jam 12 is shown in Fig. 7, which together with-Fig. .6 shows thedetailed operation of supporting :member 51 r Said. member comprises agenerally vertically disposed, clongated-plate 103, generally parallelto table .29, the'upperportion of which is curved in a direction .toward sideram 12 to provide an inclined cam surface ,104extending partlyinto the upward path of .the row .01? articles being lifted by elevator11. The

lower .edgeof plate 103 is secured to a horizontal shafit 105 (Figs. 4,.6, 7) Which has its ends journalled in bearings 106 mountedpn .frame56, so that plate 103 may be swung aout ofthe way by the upward movementof said rowof articles. LA lever 107, also secured to shaft 105' for.swingingtherewith, has its end remote from said shaft connectedtolrigidarm 108 by tension spring 109.

Said springtherefore urges cam surface 104 at plate103 into the.vertical path of the .row .of articles as shown in wFig.-6and.anjadjustable stop 110' is provided on arm 108 v.abuttiQgQIeVeI.107 (forlimiting such swinging of plate103.v V

At its upper edge plate 103 is bent back from side ram :12 toprovide .agenerally horizontal ledge 11:1 .for

.ably urgedgtothe vertical, against theedge. of ledge .111 ,asastop.(Fig. .6 ),..by torsion spring 115.. (Fig. 14) which surroundsjs'tubshaft 113 and is secured at either end to =an outboard collar.on saidshafit and to plate 103. .As .sideram -12 .beginsto move the stack at Cinto the entrance ofithecarton tube(position D, Fig. 6) lug 114i pushedto ;a, generally horizontal position by the tier of articles at A,against the-force of spring 115. As -such movement ,of the stack at Ccontinues the ,loweredge of plate 40 of said side ram slides over lug1:14am ,ithenholds the same in the generally horizontal .positionagainst .lipg62 of bottom plate 59 at the end .of the .s=tr oke..of'sideram 12 (Fig. 7). At the same .timepartbn dog 46rcontaots cam surface104- of plate 103 adjacent ledge 111 and swings said plate about the vaxis .of.,shaft 105, against the force of spring 109.

'Astop 1'161and an, abutting adjustment screw 117 may be rprovide d on.arrnfl108 and lever 107, respectively, to limit .theamountof. swing ofplate 103 in this direction.

Hence lug 114 affords a transition plate to support 'It is actress "ofpack-ages. The adjustability of member 51, provided by screws 110 and117, and of carton dog 46, provided by an adjustment screw 118 (Fig. 6),enables the machine to be easily set for articles of differentdimension.

Returning to Fig. 5, it will benoted that once the stack at C is movedaway from the position shown by "side ram 12, switch'101 will return toits dotted line position. To prevent operation of lift cylinder 32 atthis time, reciprocable supporting bar 41 of side ram 12 is providedwith a switch bar 121 which, upon reciprocation of bar 41, trips eitherof two switches 122, 123 at opposite ends of the stroke of the side ram.Switch 122 is interposed in the aforementioned power circuit of theadvance side of solenoid 92 and is closed only when side ram 12'is inthe retracted position. Once cylinder 44 drives side ram 12 to the leftin Fig. 5, switch 122 breaks the power circuit to the advance side ofsolenoid 92 of the elevator cylinder.

' Normally open, switch 123 controls the retard side r of solenoid 94 ofcylinder 44 and is placed to be closed by switch' bar 121 (dotted lineposition in Fig. at the outer end of the stroke of side ram 12 (Fig. 7).Upon closing switch 123 completes the connection between power source 91and the retard side of solenoid 94 to return side ram 12 to the positionof Fig. 5.

It is also impossible for side ram 12 to be extended while elevator 11is in its upper position (as at the upper end of the stroke thatelevates the last tier in a stack) because of switch124. This switch,normally closed, is also interposed in the power circuit of the advanceside of solenoid 94 and is broken by contact with theupper end 97 ofswich actuator 96 during the upper end of the stroke of lift cylinder32. Once retraction of cylinder 32 and elevator 11 begins, switch 124closes and the advance side of solenoid 94 is energized.

One other switch 125 is in the power circuit of the advance side ofsolenoid 94 to provide an additional safety factor. Switch 125 isnormaly open to interrupt such power circuit and is closed by bar 74 ofthe case chair lifting mechanism (Fig. 5). Hence, case chair 13 must bein its upper, case supporting position (shown in Fig. 5 in solid lines)before the advance stroke of side ram 12 can take place;

As previously explained, the open end of case 7 is slipped over cartontube 55. In this position (Fig. 5) an open, top flap 126, guided bybracket 61, strikes the blade of a micro switch 127 which is in thepower circuit of the advance side a of solenoid 99 of chair cylinder 79.lowered position (shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 5), it will be notedthat a cutout switch 128, also in such power circuit, may be placed tobe closed (dotdash line position of switch blade) by said chair.Therefore, with case 7 in place on tube 55 and with chair 13 in thelowered position, the circuit between power source 91 and side a ofsolenoid 99 is completed toextend piston rod 78 of cylinder 79 and liftcase chair 13 to a position supporting and backing up case 7.

As shown in Fig. 5, bottom plate 65 of said case chair is spaced fromthe bottom of case 7 by an amount less than the thickness of a stack 5and fingers 69 are extended to hold bottom flaps 70 closed and case 7 inplace on tube'55.' Side plate 66 of chair 13 is slotted to pass theactuating lever of a switch 129, for a purpose to be described.

The steps thus far described of successively elevating rows of packagesto form stacks of a plurality of tiers and successively moving saidstacks laterally of elevator table 29 are repeated until stacks areassembled at positions C, D, E, and F (Fig. 5). Upon the next stroke ofside ram 12, the stack at C is first consolidated wit=h the others whichare then pushed to the left until -'thestack at F reaches the bottom ofcase 7; then said case is urged away from carton tube 55 toward'bottomAssuming that case chair 13 is in the 8 plate 65 of chair 13. As saidside ram approaches the outer end of its advance stroke this movement ofcase 7 causes switch 127 tobe opened, providing a second break in thepower circuit to'the advance side of solenoid 99. I

At the same time case 7 closes switch 129 in the circuit between powersource 91 and the retard side i of solenoid 99 thereby causing cylinder79 to lower case chair 13 and place filled case 7 on belt of takeoifconveyor 14. This ends one series of case-filling steps.

It will be noted that side ram 12 in its last above described strokepushes the stacks at E and F out of cartontube 55" and into case 7. Saidstacks are herein referred to as a case lot, and after such stroke ofram 12, the stacks at C and D (Fig. 5) are in position in the cartontube (Fig. 7) to be inserted into and carried away b'y'the next caseupon the next two strokes of side rain 12.

articles having substantially flat sides enabling them to supportthemselves in vertically stacked relationship. In

order to process rounded or bulged packages or bags,

such as those containing frozen foods, flour, sugar, and the like, themachine of this invention may be modified as shown in Figs. 8 through10. 'l he modification of Figs. 8 to 1() incorporates the basicstructure of the previously described machine and such structure,including input conveyor 10, elevator 11, side ram 12, case chair 13,takeofi conveyor 14, and housing 16 and their component parts, issimilarly referenced and operates in a similar manner.

Since the packages for which this machine is intended may be easilytipped over, such pakages are adapted to be oriented with a longdimension in the direction of travel of conveyor 10. Table 29 ofelevator 11 may as well be a single plate in this case.

One important difference in the modified machine lies in carton tube 130(Figs. 8, 9). Such tube has a rectangular, vertically disposed,centrally open frame 131, supported by brackets 57 on housing 16, and abottom plate 132 (Figs. 9, 10) cantilevered from frame 131 and supportedby bracket 133, as in the machine of Figs. 4, 5. A pair of similar,vertically disposed side plates 134 are each secured at one edge,adjacent side ram 12, to a vertically elongated bar 135. Each said baris mounted to frame 131 by a pair of bolts 136 fitting in loose holes inthe vertical side members of said frame and each said bolt is surroundedby a helical spring 137 abutting bar and said frame. This mounting notonly allows side plates 134 to spring toward and away from each otherbut allows for limited swinging of said plates generally about the axisof the side members of frame A pair of leaf springs 138 are also securedto said side members of said frame and extend convergently in adirection opposite from side ram 12 along plates 134 to urge the end ofthe plates opposite bars 135 toward each other (Fig. 9). Both bottomplate 132 and side plates 134 are provided with flared lips 139 adjacentside ram 12 for guiding the stack of packages, pushe bysaid side ram,into carton tube 130.

Normally the packages being assembled by this modified machine areoriented with their shortest dimension parallel to the direction oftravel through carton tube. The stacks of such pakages and each columntherein must be individually restrained by the carton tube be-Eachassem'bly 141 comprises an elongated plate 142, mounted on frame 131in the same manner as side plates 134 by bolts 143 and springs 144, andhaving a flared lip 145 (Fig. 10). A leaf spring 146, secured to saidframe, similarly urges theremote end of each plate 142 toward bottomplate 132.

In addition, to assist in restraining the first stack of packagesentering the carton tube and to facilitate such entrance a bent finger147 extends from the entrance end of each plate 142. Said finger ismounted for swinging about a horizontal rod 148 (Figs. 8, 9, l) and isprovided'wit'h an eccentric lever-149 connected by tension spring 150 toframe 131 for urging the remote end 151 of finger 147 downwardly. Whenend 151 is pushed to the horizontal by a stack of packages (as at E,Fig. '10) it is substantially.coplanar with plate 142. Anadjustable'stop 152 (Fig. may be provided to abut lever 149 for limitingthe downward movement of finger 147.

Another important difference in this modified machine exists in themechanism for supporting the packages between successive elevations byelevator 11. Since the packages on which the modified machine operatesmay have bulged sides, said packages and tiers thereof will not becapable of supporting themselves in stacked redaiion ship as in Fig. 5,position C. Hence, as the row of packages is lifted by elevator 11 (fromposition A, Fig. 10) it is tilted slightly toward side ram 12 by ahorizontally elongated fixed plate 154. Plate 154 may be slightly bentalong a horizontal line at two places intermediate its lower and upperedges so that its upper portion is slightly inclined to the direction oftravel of elevator 11. Said plate ispreferably of light gage springsteel and is secured at its lower edge to a guide rod 155 which ismounted on housing 16 opposite table 29 from guide rails andintermediate the pair thereof. The

upper edge of plate 154 is substantially even with and adjacent tobottom plate 132 of carton tube 131) and is formed with a lip 156 toguide the stacks of packages into thepentrance of said tube.

Plate 154 is formed with a plurality of apertures 157 (Fig. 8), one foreach vertical column of packages, for receiving therethrough one of theends of 'a plurality of caiton dogs 158. Each said dog is secured'at itsother e nd'to a rotatable shaft 159 and isprovided with a coil spring160 urging said one end of'said dog through said aperture and under theedge of each package of the tier raised to position B (Fig. 10) byelevator 11. It

will be noted that the top of the tier at B is substantially even withbottom plate 132 of tube 130.

I Opposite each carton dog is an arched, yieldable pad 161 whichis'pivotally mounted at one end of a lever 162. Each said leverisswingably mounted intermediate its ends to a shaft 163 and has itsopposite end connected by a tension spring 164 (Fig. 10) to a portion ofhousing 16. Pads 161 are mounted adjacent the packages in the tier atposition B and are urged against said packages by'spring 164. Said padmay be urged to swing in one direction by a spring 165 connected betweenone edge of said pad and an extension 166 on lever 162 and an adjustablestop 167 is provided to limit 'Pads 161 tend to restrain the tier ofpackages at position'B in the slightly inclined shown in Fig. 10 againstplate 154. This causes the next higher tier (at position C) to beslightly tilted toward plate of side ram l-2 with its upper edge restingagainst such plate. The uppermost tier at D is supported by the tier atC in a substantially vertical position adjacent plate 40.

In operation, referring to Fig. 10, a row from the line of packages ismoved onto table 29 by conveyor 10 to contact and close switch 95(Figs'.'8, 10) in a 1G manner similar to the machine of Fig. 5. With therest of the machine empty switch 101 is in the dotted position, switch122 is closed, and switch therefore activates the advance stroke of liftcylinder 32.

The row "of packages at A is lifted by elevator 11 to become a tierposition B which tier is held there by dogs 158. Similarly, closing ofswitch 104) by hump 598 of actuator bar 36 retracts elevator 11. Thiselevating step is successively performed by the machine until tiers havebeen lifted to positions D, C, and B, as previously described.

At this point the upper tier of packages at D flips switch 101 to thesolid line position to complete the circuit from power source 91 to theadvance solenoid 99a of cylinder 44 and to the coil 169 of a sequencerelay 170. One end of coil 169 is grounded. in addition to said-coil,relay 170 (Fig. 11) includes a conventional armature 171 having adownwardly depending finger 172 adapted to engage a 9-point ratchetwheel 173, secured to a rotatably mounted shaft 174. Armature 171 isalso provided with a stop element 175, adapted to contact ratchet wheel173 to limit the rotation thereof.

Each time coil 1 69 is energized, armature 171 is attracted thereto,engaging finger 172 with ratchet wheel 173 to index shaft 174 one-ninthof a revolution. At its outboard ends shaft 174 is provided withthree-lobe breaker wheels 17oz, 176 the lobes of each of which areadapted to break spring closed points 177;, 177 respectively; Wheels17oz, 176 are setto 'perfor three successive functions.

From theposition shown in Fig. 11 in which points 177 are closed andpoints -177z are open, upon each successive energization of the relay;first, both points are closed, second, points 1773 are opened and points17% vclose,and third, -the points return to their originalposition,i.e.177y closed, 177z open. These three successi-ve functions.are'related to the operation of the machine as will be subsequentlyshown. 7

in contrast to the machine of 'Fig. 5, in which side ram '12 makessuccessive strokes of equal length, the side ram ofthe modified machineof Fig. 10 is adapted to make two short strokes and one long stroke insuccession. As the machine is filled to the extent'described with tiersof packages in a stack at D only, relay 170 should be in its originalstatus shown in Fig. 11 and described above. The small, opposite sideelevational views at Y and Z in Fig. 10 also illustrate the condition ofthe points as does the small and elevational view at X.

The circuit from power source 91 through switch 122 (previouslydescribed as closed by switch bar 121 when side ram 12 is in theretracted position) and through switch 101 (closed by the stack at D)may be traced to switch '124. This latter switch is normally closed uponretarding cylinder 32, as previously explained,

' which completes the-power circuit to points 1773/. Since said pointsare closed, current flows therethrough to coil 169 of relay 170 and tothe advance side a of solenoid 94 0f cylinder 44. Side ram 12 istherefore actuated to the;left in Fig. 10 and shaft 174 of relay 171) isindexed one ninth revolution, closing both points 177y and 1771.

Thismodified machine is provided with two retard switches .1238 and 123Lfor the short and long strokes, respectively, of side'ram 12. Switch123$ is so placed to be closed by switch 'bar121 upon the stack ofpackagcsat D reaching position E. At this point, closing of switch 1238completes the circuit from power source 91, through said switch, andthrough points 1772, (now closed) :to theretard'side KOf solenoid 94,thereby retractingside ram- 12. During operation of side ram 12.elevator 11 is prevented'from being lifted by cylin- -der 32---'due;1toopen: switch :122.

After side ram 12 has completed its first short stroke, elevator 11 andagain actuated to lift two more tiers of packages from positions A and Bto formthe second stack at positions C and D. Side ram 12 then makes asecond short stroke, moving the stack at D to E and the stack at E to F(Big At the beginning of this second short stroke relay 170 is energizedto rotate shaft 174 and open points 177 To prevent this opening ofpoints177y from cutting the power to coil 169 before shaft 174corripletes its full one-ninth turn, a micro switch 179 is mounted to beactuated by the movement of armature 171 When armature 171 is in itsupper, spring held position (see X, Fig. 10) switch 179 is open and whenarmature 171 is pulled downwardly by coil 169 said switch closes. Thisswitch is in a bypass circuit from coil 169 through switch 122 to powersource 91. Hence, when armature 171 starts its downward movement tobreak points 177y, switch 179 closes, completing the power circuit tocoil 169 until completion of the relay cycle opens switch 179.

After the third stack of packages is formed by elevator 11 at positionD,-side ram 12 is ready for its third and long stroke. Since points 177yare open the current from power source 91 must flow through switch 122,switch 101, switch 124, and switch 125 to coil 169 and advance solenoid94a. Switch 125 is normally open and is closed by bar 74 when case chair13 is in it'supper position. However, when the machine is initiallybeing filled with packages, case chair 13 is down and it is necessary tohold switch 125 closed by hand for the first long stroke of side ram 12.

When this long stroke of the side ram: is initiated relay 170 isactuated, indexing shaft 174 to breakpoints 1772 and close points 17731(the condition shown in X, Y, and Z of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. It will benoted that breaking points 177; inactivates switch 1238 which will bebypassed by switch bar 1211. Instead, side ram 12 will travel the fullstroke of cylinder 44 until. the retard side of solenoid 94 is energizedby bar 121 contacting and closing switch '123L. This long stroke firstconsolidates the stack at D with E and F stacks to form a case lot andthen pushes said lot to the position indicated at G, H and I in Fig. 10.

Subsequently, the steps of assembling stacks at D and moving said stacksto E and F are automatically repeated during the second cycle of themachine. At the end of the second short stroke of ram 12 in this secondcycle it is necessary to place case 7 on carton tube'130. Top flap 1% ofsaid case closes switch 127, as previously described, actuating theadvance side A of solenoid 99 to cause cylinder 79 to raise chair 13from the dot-dash line position to the upper, solid line position ofFig. 10. This lifting of chair 13 closes switch 125 and the long strokeof ram 12 may take place.

Such long stroke pushes the stacks at 6,11, and 1 into case 7, and thecase is pushed out to contact and close switch 129 for activating retardsolenoid 99r. Chair 13 then lowers the filled case to belt 80 of takeoifconveyor 14. At the same time the second lot of packages at D, E, and Fhave been pushed to G, H and I.

As the filled case is lowered to conveyor 14 another empty case isplaced on tube 130 and stacks of packages continue to be assembled atpositions D, E and F. Three stacks of packages remain in the tubecontinually at positions G, H and I and the described stepsautomatically performed in the correct sequence. i It will be noted thatboth of the modifications of the machine of this invention may be easilyadjusted and/or altered slightly for handling packages and cases ofdifferent dimensions. In fact one modification can be converted to theother by replacing only a few parts.

The novel method which the machine performs is diagramaticallyillustrated inFigs. 12 through 17. It is .obvious that such method canas well be performed by mechanism, other than that specificallydescribed, or by hand. Fig. 12 shows the first step in the method ofloading a row 3 of articles '1 on the elevator from the line 2 of saidarticles on conveyor 10. Row 3 is elevated to form tier 4 (Fig. 13) andthis second step is repeated until a predetermined number of tiers 4have been elevated to form stack 5 (Fig. 14). Stack 5 is then movedlaterally of line 2, as seen in Fig. 15, and the steps of Figs. 13 and15 successively repeated until a case lot 6 of a plurality of stacks 5are formed (Fig. 16). In the last step, said case lot is inserted incase 7.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, itis obvious that modifications could be made therein'fwithout departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.-

I claim? 1. In a method for packing a generally rectangular case witharticles of substantially uniform size and shape,- the steps of: movingsaidarticles in a line along a generally horizontal path of travel,successively verticallyelevating rows of a predetermined number of saidarticles from said line to form a stack of a predetermined number ofgenerally vertically aligned tiers in a plane including said line, andsuccessively moving said stacks laterally of said path to form a caselot of aplurality of said stacks for insertion into said case, andapplying a yieldable restraining force to at least two sides of said lotduring said lateral movement.

2. In a method for packing a generally rectangular case with articles ofsubstantially umform size and shape, the steps of: moving said articlesin a line along a generally horizontal path of travel, successivelyvertically elevating rows of a predetermined number of said articlesfrom said line to form a stack of a predetermined number of generallyvertically aligned tiers, supporting the lowermost of said tiers betweensuccessive elevations, each of said tiers supporting the-tier thereaboveinclining at least one of said tiers in said stack from the vertical,supporting said stack on the downwardly directed inclined side duringsuch inclination, and successively moving a portion of said stacklaterally of said path to form a 'case lot of a plurality of saidportions of said stacks for insertion into said case. I

3. In a method of packing a generally rectangular case with articles ofsubstantially uniform size and shape, the steps of: moving saidarticlesin a line along a generally horizontal path of travel,successively vertically elevating rows of a predetermined number of saidarticles from said line to form a stack of a predetermined number ofgenerally vertically aligned tiers, supporting the lowermost of saidtiers between successive elevations,each of said tiers supporting thetier thereabove, including at least one of said tiers in said stacksupporting said stack on the downwardly directed inclined side duringsuch inclination, successively moving a portion of said stack laterallyof said path to form a case lot of a plurality of said portions ofstacks, and pushing said case lot into said case by the formation of thenext case lot.

4. A machine for packing articles of substantially uniform size andshape in a generally rectangular case comprising: elevator means, feedermeans for movinga row of a predetermined number of said articles intoposition to be acted upon by said elevator means, said elevator meansbeing successively operable for elevating a predetermined number of saidrows, one under the other, to form a stack of generally verticallyaligned tiers in the plane of operation of said elevator means, holdingmeans for supporting said tiers between successive elevations, andpusher means for successively moving said stacks laterally of said tiersto form a case lot of said stacks and for inserting said case lot into acase, and yieldable restraining means on at least two sides of said caselot for preventing toppling of said stacks prior. to insertion into saidcase.

5. In a case filling apparatus, a conveyor for moving articles ofuniform shape and size in a line along a horizontal path of travel inone direction, an elevator positioned in alignment with said conveyorfor receiving a predetermined number of such articles thereon in ahorizontally extending row, means for displacing said elevator out ofalignment with said conveyor for-positioning said row in a tier in agenerally vertical plane including said line and spaced vertically fromsaid path, means for automatically holding said tier in said spacedposition when said elevator is retracted to said position in alignmentwith said conveyor, said elevator being successively operable forpositioning successive rows to form a stack of a plurality of said tiersin said plane, a generally rectangular, open ended tube spacedhorizontally from said plane and in line with said stack, pusher means,reciprocable laterally of said vertical plane, for successivelyinserting said stacks into one end of said tube and consolidating saidstacks therein to form a case lot of a plurality of said stacks, theother end of said tube being adapted to be inserted in the open end of acase to be filled, case supporting means mounted for swinging movementbetween a position supporting the closed end of the case on said tubeand a position supporting such case in upright condition and depositingthe same on a take ofi conveyor and including yieldable means yieldablyengaging the closed end of such case, further reciproeations of saidpusher means urging said case lot through said tube and into said caseand case outwardly of the end of said tube and against the yieldabilityof said yieldable means, and means responsive to said outward movementof said case for initiating said swinging movement.

6. In a case filling apparatus, a conveyor for moving articles ofuniform shape and size in a line along a horizontal path of travel inone direction, an elevator positioned in alignment with said conveyorfor receiving a predetermined number of such articles thereon in ahorizontally extending row, means for displacing said elevator out ofalignment with said conveyor for positioning said row in a tier spacedvertically from said path, means for automatically holding said tier insaid spaced position, when said elevator is retracted to said positionin alignment with said conveyor, said elevator being successivelyoperable for positioning successive rows to form a stack of a pluralityof said tiers in a generally vertical plane, means for slightly tiltingat least one of said tiers, and means for supporting said stack on thedownwardly directed inclined side of said tilted tier.

7. A machine for packing articles of substantially uniform size andshape in a generally rectangular case comprising: elevator means, feedermeans for moving a row of a predetermined number of said articles intoposition to be acted upon by said elevator means, said elevator meansbeing successively operable for elevating a predetermined number of saidrows, one under the other, to form a stack of generally verticallyaligned tiers, and pusher means for successively moving said stackslaterally of said tiers to form a case lot of said stacks and forinserting said case lot into a case, and interlocking control meansinitiated by said articles for controlling the successive operations ofsaid elevator means and said pusher means and for preventinginterference therebetween, said control means including a sequence relayfor determining the sequence of operation of said pusher means.

8. A machine for packing articles of substantially uniform size andshape in a generally rectangular case comprising: a generallyhorizontally extending feeder conveyor for moving a plurality of saidarticles in a line in one direction, elevator means elongated in saidone direction and aligned with said conveyor for receiving an elongatedrow of a predetermined number of said articles from said conveyor, saidelevator means being successively vertically operable for elevating apredetermined number of said rows one under the other to form a stack ofgenerally vertically aligned rows in the plane of operation of saidelevator means, holding means disposed above and longitudinally of saidelevator means for receiving each said row from said elevator means andfor supporting the same along the opposed longitudinal edges thereof,and pusher means successively operable transversely of said elevatormeans and disposed thereabove for successively shifting said stackstransversely of said rows to form a case lot of a plurality of saidstacks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,467,019 Tzibides Sept. 4, 1923 1,803,123 Mudd Apr. 28, 1931 1,839,925McKaig Jan. 5, 1932 2,047,272 Kimball et al. July 14, 1936 2,051,190 VanBuren Aug. 18, 1936 2,291,645 Nordquist Aug. 4, 1942 2,498,071 Dalzielet a1. Feb. 21, 1950 2,549,004 Pomeroy et a]. Apr. 17, 1951 2,613,021Bowes Oct. 7, 1952 2,633,280 Davies Mar. 31, 1953 2,648,181 Dalton Aug.11, 1953 2,678,151 Geisler May 11, 1954 2,681,171 Brown et a1. June 15,1954 2,732,984 Dans Ian. 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,516 Great BritainMar. 26, 1931

